Mounting



Oct. 10, 1961 R. M. KULICKE 3,003,272

MOUNTING Filed April 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /Z 1 /7 INVENTOR.

ROBERT M 5 /7 Baa/21.145 15 h 36 United States Patent 3,003,272 MOUNTING Robert M. Kulicke, New York, N.Y., assignor to Kulicke Frames, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved mounting of the type used to support and display pictures; the mounting moreover being advantageously employed to support elements such as mirrors.

Whether the element so supported be a mirror or picture, it will be attractively displayed, free from any ob structions which might otherwise obscure portions of its surface, or alternatively detract from its appearance.

a A further object is that of providing a mounting which may readily be applied to an element such as a picture or mirror and which when so applied, will remain against all probabilities of accidental detachment therefrom for indefiniteperiods of time. However, when it is desired to detach or remove the mounting from association with, the element, this may. readily be done without the use of special tools or skills.

A still further object resides in the designing of a mounting which will include relatively few parts, each individually rugged and simple in construction and all being capable of ready assembly to furnish the desired mounting.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention, and in which:

1G. 1 is a perspective view of an element such as a picture and a covering plate in association with a mounting, the assembly being viewed from the front;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged rear perspective view of that assembly;

, F163 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in' the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 2 and showing the mounting supported by a wall or similar vertical member; 7

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of a mounting, illustrating the same supported upon a horizontal or deck surface;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the mounting, illustrating a retaining assembly in process of application to an element to be supported thereby;

FIG. 6 is an edge view of the frame forming a part of the mounting assembly and illustrating the abutment members in association therewith;

FIG. 7 is a face View of an alternative form of mounting; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view in enlarged scale of a portion of the mounting as illustrated in FIG. 7.

In the illustrated embodiment the assembly mounted is one involving a picture. It will preferably include a transparent covering panel or sheet 10, the picture sheet 11 and a backing sheet or panel 12. In instances where merely a mirror is to be mounted, it would ordinarily be desirable to employ a backing sheet. However, in such a mounting it might be feasible simply to support the body of the mirror free from any separate sheet or panel. Therefore, except where hereinafter specifically limited in the claims, the structure being supported may include a single panel or a plurality of superposed panels or sheets.

As shown, there is secured to the rear face of backing sheet 12 a frame 13 formed of any suitable material. The side edges of this frame, as shown especially in FIGS. 3 and 5, may be inclined rearwardly and toward a common center; no portion of the frame extending beyond the area defined by panels 10, 11 and 12. In this manner the frame is in effect obscured from the vision of the observer so as not to detract from the display supported by the mounting. At spaced points along its length, the members defining frame 13 are formed with transverse openings 14 through which parts of securing assemblies extend.

Those assemblies may include one of several for-ms by means of which the desired functions may be achieved. Preferably, they will involve a structure such as is herein illustrated. That structure will include a clip member and a securing member connected to each other by tensioning elements.

Referring especially to FIG. 5, the clip member will embrace a shank 15 from which a resilient tongue 16 is struck out to extend in an inward direction. Shank 15 has its outer end continued in the form of a base 17 extending at right angles thereto and terminating in a projecting portion 18 of reduced area. Base 17 should have a length in excess of the thickness of any member or assembly to be supported. The free end of tongue 16 extends into the space defined between the projecting portion and the shank of the clip.

The securing member includes a body 18 which at its opposite ends is provided with foot portions 19 and 20 extending at right angles thereto. Foot portion 20 is continued in a rearward direction in the form of a hearing portion 21 extending parallel to body 17. This bearing portion terminates in a flange or projection 22 which is preferably bent to extend at an angle of less than 90 degrees to the bearing portion 21. A pair or" tensioning members, which are preferably coil springs 23, have their outer ends extending at spaced points through openings in the rear end of shank 15. Their opposite ends extend similarly through openings in the foot portions 26. When constricted, the springs maintain the outer end of the securing member in a position overlapping the inner end of shank 15.

As illustrated particularly in FIG. 2, the foot portion 19 of each assembly is of relatively reduced area. Therefore, it may readily be accommodated in the space between springs 23. Also, the body 17 is formed with an outwardly tapered opening or slit 24-; foot portions 20 lying to either side of this opening. Therefore, it is apparent that with the clip member overlying the assembly to be displayed, and as illustrated in FIG. 3,

' tongue 16 will bear firmly against the rear of that assembly to press the same outwardly against the inner face of projecting portion 13. With the securing member moved inwardly and maintained in that position, the springs will be tensioned to firmly draw shank 1'5 into contact with the rear face of the backing sheet or equivalent element 12. If now the flange or projecting portion 22 is maintained at a rearward station adjacent or in contact with the backing sheet, it follows that the foot portion 19 of the securing member will hear firmly against the rear face of that sheet and its body 17 will lie parallel to the surface thereof.

While numerous expedients may be resorted to to retain the securing member in this position, it is preferred to employ abutment plates 2 for this purpose. These plates may have their inner ends extending inwardly, as indicated at 26. So extending, they will penetrate to a proper depth the body of the backing sheet. The latter may be formed with grooves for their accommodation. Otherwise, the abutment plates 25 may be attached to the backing sheet in any suitable manner, as, for example, by adhesives. At this time it is to be noted that the backing sheet is preferably of an area slightly less than that of the superposed sheets. Also, in line with the openings 14 in the frame, the backing sheet may be formed with notches 26'. hi this manner the clips will Patented Oct. 10., 1961 havetheir base portions 17 suitably and ineonspicuously accommodated. 7

If the mounting is to be supported on a wall, as in V 3,' then conveniently a nail 27 is driven into that by, for example, introducing the reduced end of a strut 28 into the opening 24 of one of the securing members, so that an easel arrangement is presented. Obviously, a pair of struts or a strut assembly might be employed in this connection in order to achieve complete stability In any event, if it is not desired to introduce the flange or projecting portion 22 of a given assembly directly into the material of the backing sheet, for which reason an abutment plate 25 or similar unit is employed, then in order to complete the assembly the projecting portion 22 is moved inwardly to a point where it extends beyond the inner edge of the plate 25 and overlaps that edge, as in FIG. 5. With the parts thus disposed, the springs or other tensioning elements 23 will lie below the body 18 and be thus protected against damage or displacement. 1

In certain instances it might be desired to incorporate in the mounting a shadow-box effect, or else to render that mounting more conspicuous than is the case in the assembly as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive. in such event, a structure on the orderof that illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 may be employed. If, as shown, a frame such as 13 is employed in this connection, then a secondary frame 29 which is L-shaped in cross section may be attached to the rearsurfacc of frame 13 in any desired manner. Otherwise, frame 12 may be dispensed with. The secondary .frame 29, if employed, will have an outer edge area greater than that of the member or members to be displayed. If will have attached to its outer edge surface a channel member 30, preferably formed of metal and terminating in an inwardly extending flange 31 preferably spaced from the adjacent edge as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, nu-

' merous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

1 claim:

1. A mounting including incombination a sheet of material having rear and' front faces, a frame defining an are'a'substantially nogreaterthan, saidsheet; said frame having a surface in contact with the rear face of said sheet and extending rearwardly thereof throughout the entire edge zone ,oftheqlatter, said frame being formed with a series of transverse openings, clip members each including a shank lying adjacent the rear sheet face and extending through one of. such openings, a base overlying the edge of the sheet at a point substantially in line with the edge of the frame, a projecting portion at the end of said base and means separate from said clip member and connected therewith for exerting tension on the base portion of the clip member for maintaining it in position;

2. In a mounting as defined in claim 1, said positionmaintaining means comprising securing members attached to the rear face of said sheet, and resilient tensioning elements extending between and'connecting said securing tact with the edges of said plates.

or edges of the displayed parts and conveniently substantially in alignment with theouter face of those parts. The clips of the securing members will extend through the openings in frame 13, if the latter be employed. Otherwise, they will extend through openings in the frame 29 and be attached to extended areas of the latter. In any event, they will retain the displayed member or members in the manner heretofore described. Under these circumstances, a space will exist between flange 3 1 and those members to create a shadow-box eifect.

Obviously, if such an effect is not desired, then flange 31 may be of greater area, so that it could even overlap the edge surface of the displayed assembly.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention 5. In a mounting as defined in claim 1, a spring forming a part of said shank and said spring bearing against the rear face of said, sheet to cause said overlying projecting portion to exert pressure against the sheet surface.

6. In a mounting as defined'in, claim 1, the edges of said sheet being formed with. notches in line with the frame openings, and said clips having their base portions lying within said notches. V i

7. In a mounting as defined in claim 1, said frame comprising members having. outer edges defining an outline related to that of the sheet and such outer edges being inclined toward each other and in a direction away from such sheet.-

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 16, 1937 

